Show Questions
Expanding your School Cast
August 18, 2009
Expanding your School Cast
Finding the right cast is difficult. Finding a large cast is even more difficult. Too often, there are not enough kids interested in audtioning for school shows. What to do? Her eare few suggestions to get the ball rolling... Part I: Spread the wordAdvertise, Advertise, Advertise. I know this is an obvious sugggestion but there are multiple resources, free resources, available that educators might not be taking advantage of (or aware of for that matter.) Ask teachers from all departments to make announcments in class or hang up posters. Hang posters in bathrooms, on the school bus, the cafateria, the school paper/morning announcmetns, or anyother unsual places students may not be expecting. This is a great way to introduce students to the marketing aspects of theatre. They can pass out flyers, lollipops, chocolate, buttons-all advertising for auditions and productions. Reach out to paretns through e-mails, letters, telephone, informing them of upcoming audtion dates and times. This is a way to get the community invloved as well. Put out announcments in local penny-savers or newspapers. ask local bussinesses if you can post auditon flyers or cards with information. Let's not forget Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and MTI Showspace!
Getting Advice from Prominent Actors
July 08, 2009
Getting Advice from Prominent Actors
Is it appropriate to contact the Broadway actor (via Facebook or their website) that played a part you are preparing for? I want to ask them if they have/got any great advice or know any common traps--based on the research I've already done. Of course I would professionally introduce myself, praise their work, and offer them to decline.Appropriate or not? :)
Strand Lighting
July 02, 2009
Strand Lighting
Okay so my high school just got this new lighting board from strand lighting. It is called a Palette, I think. It is amazing. It works just like a computer and it's soo easy to use I love it. I am so sad to have graduated and be leaving it. Does anyone else around here have one in their theatre and may want to join me in discussing how amazing this thing is.
The death of Theatre Education in the public school system
June 30, 2009
The death of Theatre Education in the public school system
Theatre Art Education programs have been severly cut in public school systems throughout the country. Theatre arts education reaches a diverse group of students, some of which might not excel in a traditonal classroom enviornment but shine once given a mic and a song. For some children, it's a form of expression, for others, a kind of therapy. It's been statistically proven that most children perform better in a classroom when continually participating in regular theatre art education program. Many schools in NYC, in conjuction with MTI, have been trying to keep the arts alive in schools city wide, with great success. Now I ask this; what can be done on at national level? I feel teachers, administrators, parents, siblilings, communities as a whole, should try, and be able, to keep theatre art education alive in the public school system. Money is an issue for most, which is why these programs have been cut in the first place, but, if we all put our heads together, I know there must be a solution or a way to get the ball rolling. Any suggestions?
Teaching Through Musical Theatre
June 26, 2009
Teaching Through Musical Theatre
Have any of you classroom teachers used musicals to teach other subjects? I don't just mean analyzing a musical in English class like you would any other literary work (although I'm curious about that, too!)--I mean using Pacific Overtures to teach students about the opening of Japan, or using Caroline or Change to look at the Civil Rights movement. For those of you that have, what are your experiences? What are some of the challenges you've faced--like a classroom of kids who hate musicals--and how have you overcome them? How do you use the cast album? Do you just focus on the text? If you haven't used musicals in your lessons, why not? Is that something you'd be open to?
Working with the deaf and hard of hearing
January 13, 2009
Working with the deaf and hard of hearing
Has anyone done theatre using a deaf actor and a speaking actor playing the same role. I understand when Big River was on Broadway it was done that way and I wondered how it worked. Right now I have a deaf actress playing Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker and I'd love to consider her for another show. Any ideas or insight would be helpful.
Casting a School Production: Getting Kids Into the Act
January 07, 2009
Casting a School Production: Getting Kids Into the Act
Are there any teachers or directors who have difficulty getting students to audition for shows? What do you do when there's a shortage of male students? How do you target a strong performer and encourage them to audition again?
Shoestring Budget? Creating Sets and Costumes on a Dime
January 07, 2009
Shoestring Budget? Creating Sets and Costumes on a Dime
What are the best solutions for building a show's sets and costumes on a limited budget? Do most teachers find that borrowing costumes from other schools or theatre companies helps? What about using MTIShows Community Rentals? What do you find to be the most cost-effective solution?